Carlton sponsors National Badminton League

Greenville, SC — Carlton, a name synonymous with premium badminton equipment throughout the world, is pleased to announce its new sponsorship of the National Badminton League (NBL). As part of the agreement, Carlton becomes the official racquet, shuttlecock, and accessories line for the NBL Pro League, the NBL Recreational League (for adults and juniors) and the Intercollegiate Badminton Association (for collegiate teams).

Centered in Southern California, the three team 2012 Pro NBL season kicks off this Saturday in San Diego with the San Diego Admirals squaring off against the Los Angeles Strings. “The NBL is very excited about our partnership with Carlton at the start of the 2012 season,” said Donn Gobbie, NBL Founder and CEO. “We know from experience that Carlton has always been committed to badminton, and we look forward to working with them in making the sport more popular at the recreational and professional levels in the United States.”

The Carlton GT1 shuttlecock will be used for all tournaments, and starting in August, the latest line of Carlton racquets will be available in the United States. Joachim Persson, of the MBL’s Manhattan Beach Breeze, uses the Carlton Razor 1.0 racquet with Razor technology.

“Our Carlton brand is known as one of the premier badminton brands around the world,” said Kai Nitsche, VP and General Manager Dunlop Sports Group Americas. “This partnership is part of our overall strategy of re-launching Carlton in America as a premium brand; it will give the Carlton name great visibility amongst professionals and fans of the sport alike.”